One in five children in Maine experiences food insecurity, and one in seven Mainers faces hunger. In Lincoln County, approximately 12.5% of residents are food insecure. To help address this need, local food access organizations and farms have partnered with the Boothbay Region YMCA to make fresh, healthy food more accessible to community members. 

For the past 10 years, the Boothbay Region Food Pantry, located in the lower level of The Congregational Church of Boothbay Harbor, has worked with the YMCA to regularly distribute produce from local farms during the spring and summer months. The pantry receives much of this produce from nearby agricultural organizations, including Veggies to Table in Newcastle and Twin Villages Foodbank Farm in Damariscotta. 

I had the opportunity to interview two key figures at the food pantry, Fleet Davies and Gregory Barter. Fleet is originally from New Jersey but lived throughout the country during his career in the Coast Guard. Beginning in the 1950s, he spent summers in Boothbay with his family at their home near Spruce Point, where clamming became a “cherished family tradition.” In 2010, Fleet moved to Boothbay year-round and joined the food pantry volunteers that same year. 

Gregory has lived in Boothbay his entire life. After spending 30 years working at Hannaford, he developed a deep understanding of both the food industry and the needs of the local community. Following his retirement in 2017, he joined the pantry’s volunteer team. His commitment to service was evident when he donated all the money he received at his retirement party to the pantry. Both men chose to volunteer because of their dedication to serving their community. 

The Boothbay Region Food Pantry has operated out of the church since 1985. The church generously provides the space, electricity, and heat at no cost. The pantry was originally established because there was “a need in the community for those who were hungry,” and, according to Fleet, “the mission has not changed.” 

Every Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., the pantry is open to registered community members. The organization currently serves 175 families, with an average of 25 families visiting each week to access food. In addition, volunteers provide deliveries throughout the week to individuals who are unable to visit the pantry in person. 

The pantry’s ability to serve the community depends on the support of organizations such as Veggies to Table and Twin Villages Foodbank Farm, as well as monetary and food donations from generous community members. Erica Berman, founder and executive director of Veggies to Table, highlights the importance of partnerships that increase food access. She says, “I have seen local hunger continue to rise across Lincoln County because of cuts to nutrition education programs such as SNAP-Ed, the end of pandemic-era supports, and growing demand at food pantries.” 

At Twin Villages Foodbank Farm, growers have responded to increasing demand by prioritizing efficiency and impact. The farm director, Sara Cawthon, says that the farm “focuses on growing crops that provide the highest yields and nutritional value per square foot” to ensure that the food needs of Lincoln County residents is met.  

During the summer, Fleet and Gregory deliver fresh produce to the Boothbay Region YMCA every Friday morning. Soon, those deliveries will expand to Mondays and Tuesdays as well. These deliveries are part of a broader partnership between the YMCA, the food pantry, Veggies to Table, and Twin Villages Foodbank Farm, all working toward a shared goal: improving access to fresh, nutritious food for local families. 

By serving as a distribution site, the YMCA helps ensure that healthy food reaches more members of the community who need it. This partnership strengthens the YMCA’s mission of serving local residents while expanding the reach of the food pantry and its agricultural partners. Together, these organizations are helping address food insecurity and build a healthier community. 

Last November, the Y ran a month-long food drive to help fill the pantry when supplies ran low due to changes in SNAP benefits during the government shutdown. The Y’s mission is to respond when there is a community need and to partner with others to help meet it. 

Anyone who is a member of the Y, or any member of the community, is welcome to the fresh produce on Fridays. If there are leftovers, they are brought to the Community Resource Council’s 24/7 Community Fridge to help prevent waste. 

“Sharing with the community, and partnering with the Y, are two important goals for us,” says Fleet. “We are a very special community, and it’s important to get this healthy food out to those who appreciate it and need it.”